Westford girls swim to state title

Martin Renzhofer mrenzhofer@wickedlocal.com @mrenzhofer

Monday

Feb 19, 2018 at 5:06 PMFeb 19, 2018 at 5:06 PM

Wave after wave of Westford Academy swimmers sank their Division 1 competition as the overall depth of the Grey Ghosts insured their third consecutive girls state championship at the Boston University Aquatic Center on Feb. 18.

Westford did not win an individual event, but won three relays in capturing its sixth title in seven years (2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018).

The Ghosts have now completed three undefeated seasons in a row, having not lost a dual meet since 2015.

In some ways, the best is yet to come.

“Although Katherine Pawlak and Emily Rudiman were seniors who scored high in both individual and relay races, WA relied heavily on its underclassmen, particularly its freshmen, for a lot of its depth points,” WA girls coach Kaitin Klick-McHugh said. “These swimmers will be key looking ahead to next season.”

Westford scored 445 points. Second place Concord-Carlisle was way back in the rear-view mirror with 166.5 points, followed by Masconomet, 166, Minnechaug, 150, Beverly, 144, and Bishop Feehan, 136.

Westford Academy was 10-0 this season, Dual County League champions and Division 1 North champs.

Westford took the lead after the first race, the 200 medley relay, as freshmen Amy Jiang, Madison Leong and Michaela Martin teamed with Pawlak swam to victory.

The Grey Ghosts also set a meet record in the 200 relay with Pawlak, junior Anika Svoboda, junior Ada Ferrick and senior Emily Rudiman.

Their swim in 1 minute, 37.40 seconds broke the previous record, which, of course, was set by WA in 2017.

Martin, freshman Halle Moore, Ferrick and Rudiman also won the 400 relay.

Westford’s best individual finishers were Pawlak with a second in the 50 free, while Jiang was second in the 100 backstroke.